After a childhood focused on theater and dance-culminating with a B.A. in musical theater and an extended role in a nationally touring Broadway revival of Cabaret-Kiirstin entered the world of live, original music in 2005 by joining Hoboken-based progressive rock band Ground To Machine. In 2007, with Kiirstin as their lead, GTM won the Break Contest, earned a place on the Bamboozle stage, and even played the Saints & Sinners festival headlined by Glassjaw.
Inspired by 2007's success and looking to grow as an artist, Kiirstin left Ground To Machine and formed her band, Verity In Stereo-a genre-bending jazz/rock quintet that achieved much local success. Verity In Stereo repeatedly headlined Asbury Park's legendary Stone Pony, opened for Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 for the finale of MTV's Too Fast For Love Tour, enjoyed regular air play on college, internet, and commercial radio (including a spotlight feature by 95.9 WRAT's Maria Mar), were nominated for the 2011 Best Avant-Garde Asbury Music Award (Kiirstin was also nominated for Best Female Vocalist), and named RAW:NYC's Band of the Year for 2011.
True to her inimitable, boundless ambition, Kiirstin closed a year of great achievement by enlisting the producing talents of Brian Deneeve (From Autumn To Ashes) and Todd Weinstock (Glassjaw) for her solo project, an intensely personal venture that nonetheless defies the notion of genre boundaries. Mixing big-band orchestration, hip-hop percussion, R&B melodies, and vocals that soar from Jazz Age crooning to heartbreaking intimacy and everything between, Kiirstin has crafted a sound as eclectic and remarkable as the woman herself-deeply grounded in musical history yet endlessly inventive, Kiirstin Marilyn promises to be like nothing you've ever heard before and won't ever forget.
Kiirstin currently resides in New York City, where she debuted her solo EP at The Bitter End in March. Keep up with news, shows, and music at KiirstinMarilyn.com or facebook.com/KiirstinMarilyn.
Legacy
Kiirstin Marilyn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The things you did
To pass the time
Before you died
Tradition
The things you do
To mask the trauma
You endured as a child
The thing we think
Sets us apart
Though we're one in the same
Religion
The thing that ties
The blindfold tight
So we can't feel the pain
We can't stop now
For the fear we feel
Is just too real
But we hope somehow
That we will live on
Though we're too far gone
To see it now
Reality
A thousand times beyond
What you perceive
Inside your mind
Addiction
The way you fight
To mask the trauma
You endured as a child
Justice
A system full of thieves
Who really think
They uphold the name
Contrition
The way
You get away with the harm
You cause everyday
We can't stop now
For the fear we feel
Is just too real
But we hope somehow
That we will live on
Though we're too far gone
We can't stop now
Though we feel the fear
That the end is near
But we hope somehow
That we will live on
Though we're too far gone
To see it now
A vulture is not a human
Who preys on the weak
A pig is not an officer
Who beats you down and beats you
A rat is not someone
Who cares only for himself
A weasel is not someone
Who would turn his back on you
A sheep is not someone
Who follows without a clue
This is intrinsically human
This is human
We can't stop now
For the fear we feel
Is just too real
But we hope somehow
That we will live on
Though we're too far gone
We can't stop now
Though we feel the fear
That the end is near
But we hope somehow
That we will live on
Though we're too far gone
To see it now
"Legacy" by Kiirstin Marilyn explores various themes related to personal and societal struggles, trauma, and the search for hope amidst adversity. The lyrics discuss different aspects of the human experience, such as tradition, culture, religion, and justice, highlighting the way these elements can both shape and mask the pain we endure. The song emphasizes the need to confront these issues rather than turning a blind eye or perpetuating harmful cycles.
The first verse delves into the effects of trauma, suggesting that individuals may engage in certain behaviors or traditions to distract themselves or cope with their past experiences. The chorus acknowledges the overwhelming fear that can often accompany facing these issues, but expresses a desire to find a way to keep moving forward, even if it feels impossible in the present moment.
The second verse expands on the theme of trauma, illustrating how addiction can be a manifestation of trying to cover up or numb the pain endured during childhood. The lyrics also critique the justice system, describing it as a platform for those who abuse their power and escape accountability. The concept of contrition is mentioned, reflecting on how some people manage to evade responsibility for the harm they cause on a daily basis.
The bridge of the song challenges conventional labels and stereotypes, suggesting that certain animals used as metaphors (vulture, pig, rat, weasel, sheep) possess negative connotations that are wrongly attributed to them. The singer implies that these traits are innately human, questioning the ethics and behaviors of society.
Overall, the song "Legacy" by Kiirstin Marilyn explores the complexities of human existence, touching upon the lasting impacts of trauma and the need for introspection and societal change to break free from cycles of pain and injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
The things you did
The actions you took
To pass the time
To occupy yourself
Before you died
Prior to your death
Tradition
Customs and practices
The things you do
The actions you perform
To mask the trauma
To conceal the pain
You endured as a child
You experienced during your childhood
Culture
The beliefs and behaviors of a group
The thing we think
What we believe
Sets us apart
Distinguishes us from others
Though we're one in the same
Although we are fundamentally similar
Religion
Belief system or faith
The thing that ties
What connects or binds
The blindfold tight
Restricting our perception
So we can't feel the pain
Preventing us from experiencing suffering
Reality
Actual state of existence
A thousand times beyond
Far exceeding
What you perceive
What you understand or perceive
Inside your mind
Within your thoughts and consciousness
Addiction
Dependency or reliance
The way you fight
Your approach to combat
To mask the trauma
To conceal the pain
You endured as a child
You experienced during your childhood
Justice
Fairness or righteousness
A system full of thieves
A corrupt system
Who really think
Believing strongly
They uphold the name
They maintain their reputation
Contrition
Remorse or guilt
The way you get away with the harm
How you avoid consequences for the damage
You cause everyday
You inflict regularly
A vulture is not a human
A person who exploits the vulnerable is not truly human
Who preys on the weak
Who takes advantage of the vulnerable
A pig is not an officer
A police officer who abuses their power is not honorable
Who beats you down and beats you
Who physically and emotionally hurts you
A rat is not someone
An individual who only cares about themselves is not trustworthy
Who cares only for himself
Who is self-centered and lacks empathy
A weasel is not someone
Someone who betrays or abandons you is not loyal
Who would turn his back on you
Who would abandon or betray you
A sheep is not someone
A person who blindly follows without critical thinking is naive
Who follows without a clue
Who obediently follows without understanding
This is intrinsically human
This is a fundamental aspect of being human
We can't stop now
We cannot cease
For the fear we feel
Due to the fear we experience
Is just too real
Is profoundly authentic
But we hope somehow
Yet we hold onto hope
That we will live on
That we will continue to exist
Though we're too far gone
Even though we are deeply lost or damaged
To see it now
To perceive it presently
Though we feel the fear
Despite experiencing fear
That the end is near
That the conclusion is approaching
That we will live on
That we will continue to exist
To see it now
To perceive it presently
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Kiirstin Calister-Kuhi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind